A baby albino dolphin, part of the 250+ dolphins captured in Taiji, Japan has been taken from its mother and placed in the Taiji Whale Museum. According to Cove Guardian, Karla Sanjur the dolphin looks “like an angel with fins,” and Ric O’Barry, the director of the Dolphin Project has decided to call this poor little dolphin “Angel.” Angel represents a huge prize for the … [Read more...]
Brown hyaenas spotted in suburbia
In the past few weeks there have been several reports of Brown Hyaenas in and around Johannesburg. The vast majority of the time these reports have been welcomed by the public with awe and enthusiasm, but there have also been expressions of concern and fear, which are not unexpected as most people are not familiar with these animals. This week’s incident, where a Brown … [Read more...]
Let’s hear it for the elephants
We have been incorporating elephants into our lives since humans first became…well…humans. The earliest known San rock paintings depict elephants, so do the cave paintings throughout Asia and Europe. There are some 75,000 prehistoric sites worldwide depicting elephants. The ‘primitives’ believed animals were people but that they represented the best and noblest of human … [Read more...]
At least 635 rhinos down this year
To date, a staggering 635 Rhinos have been reported as poached in South Africa in 2013, with the real numbers possibly being higher. Rhino poaching is considered by some to be a low risk - high reward activity with an increasingly affluent market for rhino horn in the east, and this is responsible for driving the numbers of Rhinos poached ever higher. To date, a staggering … [Read more...]
Shopping bags collect R1.7 for rhino conservation
Since the launch of the first iconic rhino reusable shopping bag in 2010, over R1.7 million has been raised for rhino conservation through a number of initiatives. Woolworths’ new limited edition rhino bag has arrived in stores in time for World Rhino Day on 22 September. Through the sale of each bag (R29.95), R10 (Vat inclusive) will be donated to the Wildlife ACT fund to … [Read more...]
Calling all white lion protectors
The pioneering White Lion Leadership Academy is a CALL TO ACTION - equipping each participant with the lion-hearted values and intuitive courage to take their enhanced and heightened awareness into hard, fast, realistic and practical application in our critical times. The objective of the Academy is to inspire and empower participants to embody White Lion leadership … [Read more...]
Another shipwreck: not a ‘Smart’ move
During the high seas experienced from inclement weather and spring tides, our coast is taking a hammering from the threats of sinking ships. As if the disaster off the Knysna coast is not enough, now another ship is stranded off the coast of Alkantstrand, Richards Bay. The 230m coal carrying vessel, called ‘Smart’, ran aground as it attempted to sail out of port on Monday 19 … [Read more...]
Art for our rhinos’ sake
A picture says more than a thousand words. Personally I feel that eco art should play a much stronger role in getting our urgent environmental message across than currently happens in our country. Our future demands that – our hearts need to be stirred by all means possible. Why are our musicians not taking up the cause, the artist illustrating our problems, the poets not … [Read more...]
Storm threatens Knysna’s oil spill cleanup
Almost a week later, and the Kiani Satu cargo ship remains stranded off the coast of Buffels Bay, Knysna. Officials are working hard and fighting the elements to float the vessel away from the protected coastline. Saturday morning 3 tonnes of oil had spilled into the ocean. By Monday 15 tonnes had entered the marine protected coastline of the Goukamma Nature Reserve, which … [Read more...]
Knysna saddled with ongoing oil spill disaster
On Thursday 8 August a cargo ship ran aground off the coast of Buffels Bay, Knysna. Oil is seeping into the sea and endangering the marine and coastal wildlife of the Goukamma Nature Reserve. After a mechanical failure Chinese cargo ship, Kiana Satu, beached 50m from the shore at Buffels Bay. The 168m vessel was on course to Gabon couriering 15 000 tonnes of rice and 30 … [Read more...]
Journey to the Star Lions
White Lions are known by the African Elders as “Star Lions” and the name Tsimba Vati- is an ancient one, directly translating into “Lion Star.” The Shangaan people, indigenous to the area, believe that the white lions are guardians of the land. These words of Maria Khosa, who was known as the “Lion Queen of Timbavati,” “Loku u Dlaya ngala basu u dlaya tiko” (If you kill a … [Read more...]
Marathon focuses on conservation in Africa
Tusk in partnership with Safaricom held the world-renowned Safari Marathon, which took place in Kenya last week. The marathon was run across one of Tusk’s flagship projects, Kenya-based wildlife sanctuary the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. The event was a huge success, drawing 1,200 runners from over 35 different countries—all excited to raise funds for conservation and … [Read more...]
The terrible tale of tuna
Are the words “dolphin-friendly” or “dolphin-safe” on local tuna cans truthful, considering that most of our canned tuna seems to be imported from the Philippines, or Thailand? This is also where it is very common for dolphins to get caught up in tuna fishing nets and subsequently killed. This is the issue I tried to clear up with some research. Some fishermen purposely … [Read more...]
